Aerial Target System Dev
Abstract
The mission of the Aerial Target Systems Development program is the design and development of threat representative subsonic and supersonic aerial targets that simulate threat weapon systems, threat aircraft or threat Unmanned Aerial Vehicles. In addition to representative air vehicles, this includes development of Target Control (TC) systems and associated Target Augmentation and Auxiliary Systems (TA/AS) which are used to replicate specific threats. Targets and auxiliary payloads are developed to support test and evaluation of combat systems required to defend fleet surface and air units in a hostile environment. As to specific hardware development, this project includes: - Supersonic Targets: Portfolio includes GQM-163A Supersonic Sea-Skimming Target (SSST), AQM-37 High Diver, and Supersonic Air Launch Target (SALT) programs. Supersonic targets represent supersonic anti-ship cruise missile threats. The design and development of GQM-163A capabilities provide threat representative targets that are used in direct support of Developmental Test and Evaluation, Operational Test and Evaluation, and Live Fire Test and Evaluation of major combat weapons programs and to a lesser degree, support fleet training. Critical live-fire Test and Evaluation events are supported for AEGIS CG and DDG Mods, DDG-51 Flight III, DDG-1000, LHA-6/8, CVN-78, CVN-79 LPD Flight II, and LSD-41/49 (SM-6, SM-2, RAM, SSDS, and ESSM). The GQM-163A is a non-recoverable supersonic sea skimming aerial target, capable of speeds in excess of Mach 2.5 and cruise altitudes from 13.0 to 66 ft. The GQM-163A has also demonstrated higher altitude diving threat profiles. The GQM-173A Multi-Stage Supersonic Target (MSST) was a supersonic development effort that was terminated on September 25, 2015; however, the requirement still exists to provide a multi-stage vehicle presentation. Funding may also be used to begin development of potential future supersonic targets to keep pace with emerging threats. - Subsonic Targets: Portfolio includes BQM-177A, and BQM-34S & BQM-74E subsonic target programs. The BQM-177A SSAT development primarily represents subsonic anti-ship cruise missile threats, replacing legacy BQM-74E targets with a modernized subsonic target with increased capabilities. The BQM-177A SSAT provides threat representation for developmental and operational test & evaluation events of major combat weapons systems programs and in support of fleet training events. Specifically, the BQM-177A SSAT provides critical live-fire test and evaluation events for AEGIS CG and DDG Mods, DDG-51 Flight III, CVN-78, CVN-79, LHA-8, LPD Flight II, JSF, E-2D, SM-6, SM-2, RAM, and ESSM. BQM-34s are undergoing product improvement program efforts which may increase their current performance envelope to meet evolving Fleet training requirements and weapon system test events. - Target Augmentation and Auxiliary Systems (TA/AS): Includes Target Threat Simulation Program (TTSP), Target Mission Support Systems (TMSS), and Target Control (TC). The TTSP portfolio provides the payload equipment required to electronically enhance aerial targets to provide threat representative radio frequency signatures, specifically the electronic attack and threat radar emissions (active emitters). Development of threat representative simulation components is on-going and required to keep pace with evolving threats and ensure that the Navy's threat simulation capabilities maintain warfighter readiness in the current environment. TC provides command and control of targets to enable the execution of threat-representative mission profiles. The mission also includes the design, development and qualification of various TMSS projects including but not limited to: Target RF datalink hardware, ground control hardware and software, scorer transponders, scoring ground stations, telemetry antennas, radar and locator beacons, identification, friend or foe transponders, and associated test sets. TA/AS enables each target to be uniquely configured for specific mission profiles and provide for high fidelity simulation of foreign threats. TA/AS-configured targets are used for radar acquisition test, electronic countermeasures (jamming) evaluation, infrared measurement and testing, radar cross section evaluation, decoy-effectiveness testing, maneuver analysis, electronic warfare evaluation, warhead-effectiveness testing and evaluation of fleet tactics. Scoring capabilities include both surface and airborne scalar scoring systems.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Project
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2024
- Source ID
- 0609_0604258N_6_1319_PB_2024
Related Documents
- Root: Target Systems Development
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- Child Accomplishment: Subsonic Targets - Development & Upgrades of Subsonic aerial targets
- Child Accomplishment: Target Augmentation and Auxiliary Systems (TA/AS)